MINNEAPOLIS, May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced that its recently-developed Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) capability upgrade for the AAR-47 Missile Warning System has been approved by the Department of the Navy for Fleet introduction. In addition to the AAR-47’s longstanding, combat-proven ability to detect incoming missile threats, the new HFI capability provides enhanced protection through detection of smaller-caliber weapon fire and rocket propelled grenades. ATK is the first company to deliver this key capability as part of a proven missile warning system.

With ATK’s unique HFI capability added to the AAR-47, military aircrews flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft can detect a wider range of threats to their aircraft, and quickly respond with countermeasures. The HFI will be provided as a software upgrade and requires no hardware modifications to the aircraft or existing AAR-47 components. The upgrade is scheduled for delivery to the Fleet later this year.

“ATK continues to enhance our electronic warfare and protection capabilities to meet the urgent operational requirements of our customer,” said Mike Kahn, President of ATK Missile Products Group. “We are leveraging the expertise developed during years of design, development, and production to support the next generation of aircraft survivability equipment.”

“The Navy’s decision to deploy ATK’s HFI upgrade to the Fleet brings aircrews the very best protection from hostile ground fire,” said Bill Kasting, Vice President and General Manager of ATK Defense Electronics Systems. “We are proud to help protect aircrew lives during combat by delivering this innovative and affordable capability.”

ATK’s AAR-47 Missile Warning System is a combat-proven electronic warfare system designed to protect helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from surface-to-air threats. The AAR-47 is the only system in use today that integrates laser and missile warning into a single system. The system is installed on more than 2,600 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft flown by the U.S. and its allies in more than 16 countries. The systems are installed on aircraft such as the C-5, C-17, C-130, P-3, CH-53/MH-53, CH-46, HH/SH-60, AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y, and MV-22.